DEMOCRATS PRESSURE GRAHAM PLATNER TO EXIT SENATE RACE
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“DEMOCRATS PRESSURE GRAHAM PLATNER TO EXIT SENATE RACE”
covered 1d ago ▶ Be on the air with NBC News“GROWING CALLS FOR PLATNER TO EXIT / BERNIE SANDERS TELLS SENATE CANDIDATE TO DROP OUT”
covered 2d ago ▶ Be on the air with ABCWatch the moment
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This storyHow many U.S. Senate seats are up for election in 2026?
- 22
- 33
- 34
- 36
Guess, then reveal the answer
33
The DSCC has pressured Senate candidates to exit races since the 1980s.
Party 'candidate recruitment' tactics — urging weaker contenders to stand down — became standard after costly primary battles drained resources ahead of general elections, a strategy now common in both parties.
This storyHow many Senate incumbents dropped out after party pressure in 2022?
- 1
- 2
- 4
- 6
Guess, then reveal the answer
2
Parties pressuring candidates to exit races is a long U.S. political tradition.
From primaries to general elections, party leaders often recruit or push out candidates to protect winnable seats. Follow the latest at AP News
Party 'clearingthe field' pressure has shaped dozens of Senate races.
When national party leaders pressure candidates to exit, it's called 'clearing the field.' The DSCC and NRSC have both used this tactic to consolidate resources behind preferred candidates, boosting general-election win rates.
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